18 And it came about that when he was in prayer, by himself, and the disciples were with him, he put a question to them, saying, Who do the people say I am? 19 And they, answering, said, John the Baptist; but others say Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets has come back. 20 And he said, But who do you say that I am? And Peter, answering, said, The Christ of God.
21 But he gave them special orders, not to say this to any man; 22 Saying, The Son of man will undergo much and be put on one side by the rulers and the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and be put to death, and on the third day he will come back to life. 23 And he said to them all, If any man has a desire to come after me, let him give up all, and take up his cross every day, and come after me. 24 For whoever has a desire to keep his life will have it taken from him, but whoever gives up his life because of me, will keep it. 25 For what profit will a man have if he gets all the world, but undergoes loss or destruction himself? 26 For if any man has a feeling of shame because of me or of my words, the Son of man will have shame because of him when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But truly I say to you, Some of those who are here now will have no taste of death till they see the kingdom of God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 9:18-27
Commentary on Luke 9:18-27
(Read Luke 9:18-27)
It is an unspeakable comfort that our Lord Jesus is God's Anointed; this signifies that he was both appointed to be the Messiah, and qualified for it. Jesus discourses concerning his own sufferings and death. And so far must his disciples be from thinking how to prevent his sufferings, that they must prepare for their own. We often meet with crosses in the way of duty; and though we must not pull them upon our own heads, yet, when they are laid for us, we must take them up, and carry them after Christ. It is well or ill with us, according as it is well or ill with our souls. The body cannot be happy, if the soul be miserable in the other world; but the soul may be happy, though the body is greatly afflicted and oppressed in this world. We must never be ashamed of Christ and his gospel.